The NSW government has given the federal government both barrels for leaking data which implied it was stockpiling COVID-19 vaccines, saying it showed Canberra's "ignorance about frontline delivery".
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Data published in News Corp Australia publications on Wednesday showed NSW has administered 50 per cent of the 190,000 doses it has received.
But Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Wednesday hit back at what he deemed Canberra's attempt to "dump on the state government" via the media, saying the leaked data was misleading and undermined vaccine confidence.
He blamed the federal government for the data leak, demanded an apology and said he'd already outlined his anger to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
"The NSW government was asked to roll out 300,000 vaccinations to the groups in (phase) 1A and 1B, of that we have done 100,000," he told reporters.
"The federal government was asked and is responsible for 5.5 million people, and they have rolled out 50,000. I think the figures speak for themselves.
"It is not appropriate that we wake up and find figures put into the media that haven't been shared with any state or territory governments (and) it is not appropriate those figures be put in a light that is quite misleading."
Mr Hazzard said "erratic" supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine complicated the NSW government's vaccine rollout. While it expected to receive 13,700 AstraZeneca jabs last week, it instead received 45,000.
He said the NSW government had not been given the time or opportunity to roll out those extra doses before the media report was published.
"You get 45,000 items dumped on your front door at night and told, 'you should have it out by the next morning'," Mr Hazzard said.
"No one would be able to do that.
"If you are going to win a war, you can't have the tanks and artillery dropped at the airport and (then be) told about it.
"You have to know what your supply lines are.
"It shows an ignorance about frontline delivery of services and I think that's because the federal government doesn't deliver frontline services."
Premier Gladys Berejiklian echoed Mr Hazzard's irritation, saying: "There is no point in delivering something to us a day ago or two days ago and (then) saying you haven't rolled them out."
Ms Berejiklian clarified that NSW had administered 156,000 jabs to date and reiterated her desire for the NSW government to retain a role in the rollout of the vaccine beyond phases 1A and 1B.
After these phases, the federal government is scheduled to take over the entirety of the vaccination program.
"When we get enough notice we are able to get out 90 per cent of what we have or more within a week," Ms Berejiklian said.
"I don't want there to be a perception there are all these doses sitting there."
Queensland on Wednesday also defended its decision to withhold vaccines to ensure healthcare workers receive their second dose, claiming there has been no certainty of supply from the Commonwealth.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said criticism from the federal government was an attempt to deflect from its own failings, claiming it was millions short of its vaccination target.
The News Corp report said Queensland had administered 55 per cent of the vaccines it has received.
However Mr Hunt on Wednesday afternoon told reporters states have known for weeks exactly how many doses they're getting and when.
A 12-week plan was provided to them on March 16, he says, superseding a four week plan they were also given in advance.
"Those supplies have been delivered exactly as set out in the forward plans, initially four weeks and now 12 weeks."
All states and territories are managing their programs as they see fit and he has confidence in them, he said.
Australian Associated Press
